Infighting and division among political parties of all persuasions has been central to Australian politics in recent memory – and the leadership shake ups have provided an endless run of fodder for the news cycle.

From the mid-1990s to 2007, Liberal John Howard held the Prime Ministership, but following that year’s election, the changes started coming thick and fast.

Since the 2007 election, five different people have held the top job – and this election could bring in number six.

“I think disengagement is at a record level,” Napier-Raman says.

“Last week we had two leadership debates – once upon a time these were put on prime time and were ratings bonanzas for the commercial TV channels.

“This time around, the first one was on various secondary channels and the second one was on pay TV on a Friday night.”

Napier-Raman adds that with that disengagement has come a rise in smaller parties, including the far-right One Nation party of Pauline Hanson, and United Australia, run by mining magnate Clive Palmer. He’s spent $50 million of his own money on advertising – but Napier-Raman says it isn’t quite clear why he wants to get into politics.

Early voting is already underway, and in Australia, it's compulsory.

The Detail was made possible by the RNZ/NZ On Air Innovation Fund.

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